USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > Official reports of the town of Wayland 1939-1941 > Part 10
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1941
Thomas E. Hynes, Engineer
1941
BURIAL AGENT
John W. Leavitt 1941
7
Term Expires
STATE AID
John W. Leavitt 1941
SOLDIER'S RELIEF AGENT
Frank A. Burke 1941
WPA CO-ORDINATOR
Ernest H. Damon 1941
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
George G. Bogren
1941
Robert M. Morgan
1942
Roger E. Ela
1943
INSPECTOR UNDER THE ZONING LAW
Chester H. Hobbs 1941
TOWN COUNSEL
J. Sidney Stone 1941
ASSISTANT TOWN COUNSEL
James B. Ames 1941
ELECTION OFFICERS
PRECINCT 1
George F. Dickey, Warden
1941
Anna R. Costello, Clerk 1941
Charles R. Harrington, Inspector
1941
Francis P. White, Inspector (Resigned)
1941
James J. Bolton, Deputy Warden
1941
Winnifred P. Carothers, Deputy Clerk
1941
Thomas E. Maynard, Deputy Inspector
1941
Charles F. Whittier, Deputy Inspector (Resigned)
1941
Edith H. Davis, Teller
1941
John E. Dolan, Teller
1941
Estella T. Bill, Teller
1941
James Linnehan, Teller
1941
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Term Expires
PRECINCT 2
Albert B. Marchand, Warden
1941
Mary K. Derrick, Clerk
1941
Alvin B. Neale, Inspector
1941
Charles L. Smith, Inspector 1941
Parker H. Groton, Deputy Warden
1941
James H. Noonan, Deputy Clerk
1941
Sebastian Sevitella, Deputy Inspector
1941
Arthur E. Peck, Deputy Inspector
1941
George Richardson, Teller
1941
Rose A. Lizotte, Teller
1941
Carrie F. Harrington, Teller
1941
William R. Gallagher, Teller
1941
James J. Bennett, Teller
1941
Edward F: Powers, Teller
1941
9
WARRANT FOR ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MIDDLESEX, SS.
To any of the Constables of the Town of Wayland, in said County:
GREETINGS :
In the name of the Commonwealth you are required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town qualified to vote in town election to meet at their respective polling places on
MONDAY, MARCH 3, 1941
at six o'clock in the forenoon, there and then to bring in their ballots for a Moderator, Town Clerk, three Selectmen, a Treasurer, a Collector of Taxes, a Surveyor of Highways, a Tree Warden, seven Constables, all for one year.
One Assessor, one member of the School Committee, one member of the Board of Public Welfare, one member of the Board of Health, one Cemetery Commissioner, one Water Com- missioner, one member of the Park Board, two members of the Planning Board, two Trustees of Public Library, one Com- missioner of Trust Funds, all for three years.
All the foregoing to be voted on the official ballot. The polls will be open at 6:15 o'clock in the forenoon and will re- main open continuously until 4:00 in the afternoon, when they shall be closed.
And you are required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town qualified to vote in Town affairs to meet at the Town Hall on
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1941
at 7:45 P. M., then and there to act on the following articles.
Article 1. To hear reports of the Town officers, agents and committees, and act thereon.
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Article 2. To choose all necessary Town officers, agents and committees not elected by the official ballot.
Article 3. To grant money for necessary Town purposes. See Finance Committee's Report.
Article 4. To see if the Town will authorize the Treasur- er, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1941 and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than a year in ac- cordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.
The Finance Committee recommends the approval of this article.
Article 5. To see if the Town will appropriate $220.00 for general improvement in any of the Cemeteries, same to be takn from money in the Town Treasury received from the sale of Burial Lots in 1940 in accordance with Chapter 114, Section 15, of the General Laws, or do or act.
The Finance Committee recommends the approval of this article.
Article 6. To see if the Town will appropriate for pay- ment of "Water Main Extension Notes Maturing in 1941" the sum of $4,500.00, and appropriate for payment of "Water De- partment Equipment Notes Maturing in 1941" the sum of $1,500.00, the entire $6,000.00 to be taken from "Water Avail- able Surplus," or do or act.
The Finance Committee recommends the approval of this article.
Article 7. To see if the Town will appropriate for pay- ment of interest due in 1941 on "Water Extension Notes" the sum of $585.00, and for interest due in 1941 on "Water De- partment Equipment Notes" the sum of $7.50, the entire sum, $592.50, to be taken from "Water Available Surplus," or do or act.
The Finance Committee recommends the approval of this article.
Article 8. To see if the Town will appropriate for "Water Department Maintenance" the sum of $6,969.86 to be taken from "Water Available Surplus," or do or act.
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The Finance Committee recommends the approval of this article.
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $6,500.00 to be used toward the purchase of a grader for the Highway Department, and in connection with the pur- chase thereof, will authorize the Highway Surveyor, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to sell, trade or otherwise dispose of the present 1930 grader.
The present grader was purchased in 1930 and has had to be repaired each year (recently) at a cost of as high as $300.00. The equipment is old, light, in bad repair and inadequate for the heavy work required in the construction and maintenance of our present day roads. The Town is scheduled for $50,000.00 worth of new construction work under Chapter 90 on Old Connecticut Path in the next two years, and, under the arrangement set up by the State for road machinery rental, a substantial part of the original cost should be returned in rental in 1941 and 1942. The contem- plated grader comes equipped for snow removal, with cab and other equipment, making it available as a year- round piece of machinery. The Finance Committee has looked into the matter of price of three or four makes of this type of equipment and feels that $6,500.00 will cover the cost of adequate equipment, after allowance for trade-in value.
The Finance Committee therefore recommends that the Town appropriate and assess the sum of $6,500.00 for the purchase of a grader for the High- way Department, and in connection therewith, author- ize the sale, trade or other disposition of the present equipment, the purchase to be made by the Highway Surveyor, with the approval of the Board of Select- men.
Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate for "Road Machinery Account" the sum of $$606.50, the money to be taken from "Road Machinery Fund."
The "Road Machinery Account" is one which is set up to provide for the maintenance of road equip- ment when in use on either Chapter 90 maintenance or new construction work. As substantial sums have been spent in putting the Highway Department's
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equipment in shape, and provided the Town purchases the grader equipment requested, the Finance Com- mittee feels that the balance available, $606.50, will be sufficient for maintenance in connection with work to be done in 1941.
The Finance Committee therefore recommends that there be appropriated for "Road Machinery Ac- count" for use on equipment maintenance only the sum of $606.50, and that this amount be transferred from "Road Machinery Fund."
Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sum of money for the improvement of Old Connec- ticut Path, said money to be used in conjunction with any money which may be allotted by the State or County, or both, for this purpose, or take any other action in relation thereto, the work to be done under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen by the Highway Surveyor.
The 1941 and 1942 proposed budget for the State and County Highway Departments include appropria- tions for resumption of Chapter 90 highway construc- tion. On certain through ways, the proportion of State and County contributions have been increased, with the result that by an expenditure of $6,000.00 by the Town, we may reasonably expect $6,000.00 to be added by the County and $12,000.00 by the State, making a total expenditure of $24,000.00, as contrasted with $18,000.00 in previous years.
A number of years ago, the State re-routed Route 126 over Old Connecticut Path from the Framingham line to Cochituate Road without placing the road on a Chapter 90 basis. As a result of this re-routing, there has been a heavy increase in traffic and the Town alone has had to bear the cost of increased repairs. The Board of Selectmen has succeeded in getting the State and County to agree to rebuild this road under Chapter 90. The entire piece will cost about $50,000.00. It has been proposed that the work be done in the years 1941 and 1942, and the $6,000.00 here requested is to carry out the Town's part of the expense for the year 1941. The Finance Committee has been closely following the matter of Chapter 90 construction and has steadily taken the position that the expenditure of money under this plan is sound
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policy for the Town. This section of Old Connecticut Path has been costing the Town from $2,000.00 to $4,000.00 a year to keep in shape.
The Finance Committee therefore recommends that there be appropriated and assessed the sum of $6,000.00 for the improvement of Old Connecticut Path, said sum, or any portion thereof, to be used in conjunction with any money which may be allotted by the State or County, or both, for this purpose, the work to be done under the direction of the Board of Selectmen by the Highway Surveyor.
Article 12. To see if the Town will appropriate and assess the sum of $6,000.00 to be used under the direction of the Board of Selectmen in connection with W. P. A. or other similar Federal or State projects, or do or act.
The Town's share of W. P. A. expense for the year 1940 came to $10,721.24, as against which the total appropriation was $15,386.36, leaving an unex- pended balance on January 1, 1941 of $4,665.12. W. P. A. operations were shut down this last year from May to October. It is impossible at this time to estimate accurately the amount of Town funds which will be needed in 1941. It appears probable, how- ever, that there will be less unemployment. Chapter 90 road construction is to be resumed this year and there are some indications that W. P. A. work will be restricted to Defense Projects. These all point to substantially reduced W. P. A. work within the Town during the coming year. The Finance Committee feels that the Town would be reasonably safe in mak- ing an appropriation of but $6,000.00 as contrasted with larger amounts in previous years.
The Finance Committee therefore recommends that there be appropriated and assessed the sum of $6,000.00 to be used with the balance in the account of $4,665.12, the entire sum, 10,665.12, to be used as the Town's share of W. P. A. expense under the super- vision of the Board of Selectmen.
Article 13. To see if the Town will appropriate and assess a sum of money to put in a water main from Old Con- necticut Path along Stone Bridge Road and around Riverview Terrace, or do or act.
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The district mentioned in this article is 1.1 miles on town road from the nearest present town water main. The extension here proposed is for 2.1 miles of water line, one mile of which would be around Riverview Circle on unaccepted and unimproved ways. The material alone for a 6-inch line would cost $11,524.00. The total cost of the project, including labor, would be about $25,000.00, and this figure might have to be raised substantially if, on closer checking, it was found that because of the distance, an 8-inch water line would be needed instead of a 6-inch. The proposed line for about half its length would run through land which is not suitable for development. When this same project was considered a number of years ago, and there has been little change since, there were found to be but fifteen or sixteen potential takers. Under the circumstances, it is obvious that the project is very much too expensive for the limited number of takers available. The Town of Framing- ham is working on an extension of their water system along Elm Street toward Potter Road, and it seems quite possible that, with further extension by Fram- ingham, the Town of Wayland would ultimately be able to serve the Riverview Terrace section at much less expense by the purchase of water from Framing- ham for distribution in a local Riverview Terrace water circuit.
The Finance Committee therefore recommends that the article be passed over.
Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and assess the sum of 1,200.00 for the purchase of a chassis and materials for the equipment of a forest fire fighting truck, and to authorize the trade-in, sale or other disposal of the two 1919 Reo trucks, or do or act.
The truck equipment of the Fire Department is at present as follows :
(1) 1935 Ford
(1) 1934 Chevrolet
(1) 1925 American LaFrance
(2) 1919 Reos.
For a number of years, the 1919 Reos have been used for fighting brush and forest fires. In the opinion of the Department, these trucks have become
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too expensive to maintain and keep in repair and have out-lived their usefulness, it now being even impossible to buy parts or tires for them. The engineers have looked into the matter and have recommended that a new chassis be purchased, that certain portions of the equipment be removed and placed on a new body to be constructed by members of the Department in ac- cordance with the State Fire Warden's recommenda- tions, the truck to be kept at the Town Hall, which is the station to which the great bulk of grass and forest fire calls are directed. The Finance Committee, after reviewing the matter with the Board of Selectmen and engineers, is of the opinion that the request here made is reasonable and would result in less wear and tear on the more expensive regular equipment.
The Finance Committee therefore recommends that there be appropriated and assessed the sum of $1,200.00 for the purchase of a chassis and equipment for a forest fire fighting truck, the work of building the body to be done by the members of the Fire De- partment, the purchase of the chassis to be made by the engineers, with the approval of the Board of Se- lectmen, and, further, that the engineers and Board of Selectmen be authorized to trade in, cell or otherwise dispose of such portions of the 1919 Reo trucks as is not required in the reconstruction of the new equip- ment.
Article 15. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and assess a sum of money in the amount of $500.00 to re- imburse Frank A. Burke of Wayland for hospital and medical expenses incurred as a result of injuries sustained by him while in the performance of his duties as fireman for the Town of Wayland, or do or otherwise act thereon.
Substantially the same article was considered at the last Annual Town Meeting. The article was originally written in the amount of $3,000.00 and was amended to progressively lower amounts and finally rejected by vote of the Town on a basis for a request of $750.00. The Finance Committee is satisfied, as a result of the investigation of last year, that there is no legal liability on the part of the Town for the pay- ment of any amount, but in view of all the circum- stances surrounding the case, the Finance Committee
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recognizes a general feeling in the Town that some reimbursement should be made.
The Finance Committee therefore recommends that there be appropriated and assessed the sum of $500.00 to be paid to Frank A. Burke to reimburse him for expenses incurred in connection with injuries sustained by him while in the performance of his duties as fireman for the Town of Wayland.
Article 16. To see if the Town will vote to change the term of office of the Selectmen, pursuant to Chapter 41 of the General Laws, from one year to three years, effective with the annual election in 1942, or do or act.
The General Laws provide that Selectmen may serve for either one year or three years. If the term is for three years, one Selectman shall be elected each year for three years. To get such an arrangement under way, in the Spring of 1942, when the terms of the Selectmen then in office expire, one Selectman would be elected for one year, one for two years and one for three years. Thereafter, one Selectman would be elected each year to serve a term of three years.
The Finance Committee recognizes that there are advantages to both arrangements, but is of the opinion that the Town would secure better and more economi- cal administration if the Selectmen were elected for a three-year term, as they are in most towns. It nor- mally takes a year or more for a man newly elected to become familiar with the duties and requirements of the office. Accordingly, each Selectman would be in a position to give more efficient service to the Town during his term without having to shape his actions toward his own re-election. The Finance Committee feels that, in general, the Town would receive more consistent, efficient and economical administration if the change here proposed were made.
The Finance Committee therefore recommends the approval of this article.
Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and assess the sum of $200.00 to purchase and erect a flag pole for the High School, or do or act.
The High School already has what the Finance Committee considers an adequate pole for the daily
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display of the flag. It therefore feels that the erec- tion of an additional flag pole at a cost of $200.00 is unwarranted at this time.
The Finance Committee therefore recommends that the article be passed over.
Article 18. To see if the Town will vote to amend the existing by-laws of the Town by adopting a new article to be known as the Building Code and being regulations for the in- spection of materials, construction, alteration, repair and use of buildings and other structures within the Town, and to pro- vide penalties for violation, thereof, substantially as contained in the report of the committee appointed at the Special Town Meeting, December 14, 1938, as added to by vote of the Town at the Annual Town Meeting in March, 1939, a copy of which report is printed in the Town Report for the calendar year end- ing December 31, 1940, and a copy of which is on file in the Town Clerk's Office, or do or act.
At the last Annual Meeting, the special committee mentioned in this article was instructed to simplify and bring before the Town for its consideration again a building code suitable for adoption by the Town.
The Finance Committee has not seen the code which will be recommended by the committee, but feels that the adoption of a proper building code, sufficiently simple and not too restricted, would be in the best in- terests of the Town.
Article 19. To see if the Town will amend its by-laws by adding a new article, substantially as follows: "The Treasurer shall have authority as to any property now owned, or hereafter acquired through the foreclosure of tax titles held by the Town, subject to the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to sell such property, after first giving notice of the time and place of sale by posting such notice of sale in some convenient and public place in the Town, fourteen days at least before the time fixed for such sale, and shall be authorized, subject to the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to reject any bid which he may deem inadequate, and pending such sale, the Custodian of such prop- erty shall have authority, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to cause to be demolished any buildings or structures on such tax title land which he believes for the benefit of the Town are in need thereof." Or amend the by-laws by the ad- dition of an article substantially like the foregoing article or any part thereof .
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"This article proposes to put in permanent form in the Town By-laws authority which has regularly been voted by the Town at the Annual Meetings. Passage of the article will relieve the Town of having to consider the matter each year and thereby assist in shortening the regular warrant."
The Finance Committee therefore recommends the approval of this article in the form requested.
Article 20. To see if the Town will vote to accept Sections 81F to 81J inclusive of Chapter 41 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth as set forth in Chapter 211 of the Acts and Re- solves of 1936, Section 4, under which the Board of Survey of the Town shall have enlarged powers in regard to subdivisions hereafter made in the Town, or take any other action in rela- tion thereto.
The Legislature in 1936 brought up to date and enlarged the authority of the Board of Survey by granting among other things, authority to require sub- mission of a plat of any proposed sub-division ; to re- quire proper street development ; to prohibit erection of buildings where proper access is not afforded and to require approval of street lay-outs in advance of the installation of utility services. The granting of the authority suggested in the article appears to be reason- able, to encourage the proper growth of the Town and to strengthen the position of the Selectmen acting as Board of Survey in handling new subdivisions.
The Finance Committee therefore recommends that the Town vote to accept Sections 81F to 81J of Chapter 41 of the General Laws.
Article 21. To see what sum, if any, the Town will vote to transfer from available funds to meet any of the appropria- tions made under the foregoing articles.
The Finance Committee recommends the approval of such action as may be suggested by the Town Treasurer.
And you are required to serve this Warrant by posting copies thereof attested by you, at the Town Hall, at each Post Office in Town, and at the Legion Hall, at Cochituate, seven days, at least, before the time of holding said election.
Hereof fail not and make due return to this Warrant with
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your doings thereon to the Town Clerk on or before March 3, 1941.
Given under our hands and seal this eighth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and forty- one.
FRANK H. CARTER, CHESTER H. HOBBS, JOHN W. LEAVITT, Selectmen of the Town of Wayland.
A true copy, attest :
Constable of the Town of Wayland.
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REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
Money for Town Purposes is appropriated under two general headings: (1) budget, (2) articles.
The expenditures recommended under the budget show an increase of about $12,200.00 over last year, largely accounted for under three headings : first, frank inclusion of the complete expenses of Relief ; second, steady growth in the cost of operat- ing the Schools; third, inclusion of items previously voted as articles such as Middlesex County Hospital assessments and Legion Hall rent.
Under the articles, the Finance Committee has recom- mended appropriations totalling $10,200.00 less than last year. The cut in this type of expenditure is a direct result of the citi- zens' refraining from asking for special appropriations, and the planning by the department heads of their capital outlays over a longer period and in a definite relation to other expenditures of the Town.
The combined expenses of the articles and budget as recom- mended by the Finance Committee for 1941 are about the same amount as that recommended for 1940, as is also the estimate of State and County tax, and if the ultimate total expense for snow removal for 1941 can be kept within reasonable limits by the Highway Surveyor, the tax rate for the year should show a decline. A lowering of the tax rate and a close control of ex- penditures is highly important if the construction of new homes, resumed within the past year, is to be continued.
The Finance Committee feels that there are a number of matters which should be reported on, and on which recommen- dations should be made to the Town. No real estate valuation list has been printed since 1930. In the budget, appropriation has been made for the expense of preparing, compiling, printing and distributing of such a list. There has been no regular new construction or extension of our sidewalks, although badly needed where pedestrian traffic is heavy. There has, therefore, been set up an appropriation under the Highway Department, which it is hoped will hereafter be included annually. The par-
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ticular attention of the Highway Department has been called to the need for an extension on Commonwealth Road East from the end of the present sidewalk to School Street and on Co- chituate Road from Legion Hall to Fiske Corner. Care of Dumps has been transferred to the Highway Department, which now has equipment for proper maintenance. The Moth Department appropriation has been reduced and the Finance Committee is of the opinion that the Selectmen should consoli- date the work of this department with that of the Tree Warden, this being the generally accepted method of handling these two departments throughout the Commonwealth. There has been set up under the Fire Department $300.00 for the alteration of the second floor of the Cochituate Fire Station to conform with the requirements of the Department of Public Safety. This will permit use of the second floor rooms by small community groups, which do not require, and cannot afford, the hire of larger quarters. The Finance Committee recommends that the use be limited to groups not exceeding fifty and that a uniform rental fee be set by the Department. The Finance Committee feels that the various departments should clear through the Se- lectmen their requests for legal advice and thereby reduce and eliminate overlapping and unnecessary requests for assistance from the Town Counsel. For several years the salary of the agent of the Welfare Department has been paid partly from salary appropriation and partly from Federal reimbursement for Administration, while overhead administration expenses have been taken from the general Welfare appropriation. This year, the salary previously paid from the two sources has been set up as a single item under the budget at no increase, and administra- tion expense has also been set up as a separate item. There is a strong possibility that the Welfare Department will ultimately be required to adopt the stamp plan for food distribution, in which case, the commissary will be discontinued, requiring the employment of additional clerk hire. The Water Department expects to come before the Town in 1942 with plans for neces- sary enlargement of pumping equipment. This matter is cur- rently being studied by the Department as to type of equipment and cost. It is part of a long range plan of capital expenditure by which the needed expansion can be cared for out of regular water revenue.
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